IndiaPost.com - India Association of Long Island honors five Indian Americans

India Post News Service

LONG ISLAND: India Association of Long Island (IALI) honored five distinguished Indian Americans from the area for their outstanding contributions to the society in general at its thirtieth Annual Fundraising Dinner held recently at The Woodlands country club in Woodbury. About 180 participants attended the event hat was marked with a five -hours of crowded program including sumptuous food, Indian and American desserts and entertainment by DJ B4U.

In welcoming the guests, Dr Anila Midha, IALI President, enumerated accomplishments of IALI and outlined the upcoming activities. She urged all to take active part in IALI activities and proudly reiterated the importance of IALI as the only broad-based entity operating with over 1400 members for the last 32 years.

She underscored the cooperation of IALI executive council members to make every event a great success. Pandit Jasraj, an eminent artist from India was the Chief Guest. The other dignitaries were Michelle Schimel, member of New York Assembly, and Wayne Wink, Nassau County Legislature. On this occasion five distinguished community leaders were recognized for their exceptional accomplishments.

Satish Anand, MD, MRCP: for his outstanding professional and community leadership. He is currently President of the Federation of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) of Greater NY/NJ which entails over 20 chapters in the tri-state region. His involvement with IALI goes back to 1985 and he was 'The First Gentleman' of IALI when his wife, Gitanjli, was elected the first woman President 1n 1995 Mayor Harry Anand: Is the first elected Mayor of Indian Origin in the State of New York.

He was elected as the Mayor of Laurel Hollow in Nassau County in 2007. He had also served as Deputy Mayor for two years. He also serves as Police Commissioner of Laurel Hollow. With a degree in Chemical Engineering from India, he is the President of a multi-national company, Royce International, involved in the manufacture of industrial chemicals. Pandita Tripti Mukherjee: An accomplished Hindustani classical vocalist, Pandita is the founder of the first institute of vocal Indian classic music in the USA. She named the institute 'The Pandit Jasraj Institute NY, NJ and Pennsylvania.'

She has received numerous awards and performed at many prestigious places. Naveen C Shah, CPA: for his outstanding entrepreneurship as a partner in a worldwide known company and as Certified Public Accountants and Profitability Consultants. Born in Rajasthan, Shah migrated to USA in 1982. Sgt.

Thomas Anthony: for his dedication as a police officer who reached the ground zero within 15 minutes of the fall of the first tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and volunteered everyday till the end of December. He has been instrumental in establishing a police organization called DESI. He was also recognized in November 2001 by the Kerala Center for his services at ground zero.